A doctoral researcher position is available in Neda Barghi's group at
the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology- Plön, Germany. The
position is fully funded for 3.5 years at 65% TVöD E13, and will
start in Autumn/Winter 2024. The doctoral researcher will be part of
The International Max Planck Research School for Evolutionary Biology
(IMPRS EvolBio). Further information about IMPRS EvolBio can be found
here: http://www.evolbio.mpg.de/imprs

Deadline to apply: April 15, 2024

Project title: Genetic and adaptive architecture of polygenic traits 

Project description: The genetic architecture of quantitative traits
comprises of all the contributing alleles and their effect sizes. Factors
such as the distance to the new trait optimum, starting frequencies and
pleiotropy determine which of the underlying alleles are potentially
adaptive. Therefore, only a subset of the underlying alleles responds to
selection, these alleles comprise the adaptive architecture. While the
genetic architecture has been the focus of many quantitative trait loci
(QTL) and genome-wide association (GWA) studies, the adaptive architecture
of polygenic traits is not well characterized.

The aim of this project is to compare the genetic and adaptive
architectures of a polygenic traits, Drosophila simulans female body
size. We will determine the genetic architecture of female body
size using GWAS with 1000 heterozygous individuals. Additionally,
in an evolve and re-sequence (E&R) experiment we will experimentally
evolved Drosophila simulans populations for larger body size. In this E&R
project, for the first time, the shift in trait optimum, i.e. body size,
is experimentally defined. Availability of this E&R dataset allows us to
distinguish alleles with adaptive potential, and to compare the adaptive
and genetic architectures of female body size.

This project is suitable for evolutionary biologists interested in
understanding the genetic basis of adaptation. The doctoral researcher
will have access to a large dataset consisting of GWAS and time-series
genomic data from E&R experiments. The doctoral researcher should
have strong programming skills (Python, R, etc) and experience with
handling large data sets. Background in either population genetics or
quantitative genetic is essential. The project is a great opportunity
for researchers who are interested in analyzing time-series data and
combining bioinformatics methods with population genetic theory.

This project is part of a joint research program (SFB) on polygenic
adaptation (https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/sfb-polygenic-adaptation) and
faculty in this program will be co-supervisors of the project.

Please send 1) your CV, 2) motivation letter (describing your education,
your research interests, why you want to pursue a Ph.D., and why you
are suitable for the position, max. 2 pages), and 3) contact details of
at least three referees (email addresses and phone numbers) to Dr. Neda
Barghi: barghi.neda@gmail.com.

For more information about our research/group visit:
https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/populationsgenetik/forschung/gruppe-barghi

Neda Barghi, Ph.D.
Group leader
Institute of Population Genetics,
Vetmeduni Vienna, Austria

https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/population-genetics/

*My working hours might be different from yours, please do not feel
obliged to reply outside of your normal work schedule.*

Neda Barghi <barghi.neda@gmail.com>

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